Denver Broncos’ offensive-line depth has become a major concern entering Week 11 after injuries wiped out two starters.
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August 9, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; Denver Broncos offensive tackle Alex Palczewski (63) after the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Starting left guard Ben Powers was lost to a torn biceps and was placed on injured reserve, and swing tackle–turned-starter Matt Peart landed on IR with a knee injury after tearing his MCL in Week 6 against the New York Jets.
Head coach Sean Payton moved swing tackle Alex Palczewski into the left guard spot after Powers got hurt. Palczewski had been Denver’s main backup at both tackle spots and fans enjoyed his role as an extra lineman in heavy formations.
Now he is in the starting group and Payton has praised his performance. The shift maintains the line’s stability, but it also leaves less depth at the tackle position.
To improve that depth, the Broncos signed veteran tackle Geron Christian from the Cowboys’ practice squad on November 10.
Congratulations to our very own Geron Christian (@geron_christian) on signing a contract with the Denver #Broncos!
Welcome to the Mile High City, GC. #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/o5Ai0m8uwz
— Elite Loyalty Sports (@eliteloyaltysp) November 11, 2025
A third-round pick in 2018, Christian has appeared in 63 career games with 25 starts across several stops, including 10 appearances with the Kansas City Chiefs during their 2022 title run.
He figures to provide special-teams snaps and depth behind the current starters while Palczewski mans left guard.
Denver’s front office believes Powers could return in about two months, which means a December comeback would likely move Palczewski back into a reserve tackle role.
The Broncos exited their Week 10 win over Las Vegas without any new major injuries. The team’s progress along the line remains worth watching as they navigate a key stretch of the schedule.
Chiefs Defense Sets Tough Test for Alex Palczewski and Denver’s Reshuffled Front
The Kansas City Chiefs are entering their divisional matchup on Sunday with one of the NFL’s top defenses. The Chiefs defense is ranked fourth in scoring and sixth overall in the league. The team has a 5-4 record coming out of their bye week.
The Chiefs offense is tied for the sixth-fewest sacks allowed in the league. The defense uses the fourth-highest blitz rate in the NFL.
This presents a significant challenge for the Denver Broncos’ recently reconfigured offensive line, including new signee Geron Christian, as the Chiefs defense is known for generating pressure through their scheme.
Christian and Denver’s reconfigured offensive line faces an immediate test against a Chiefs defense that can generate pressure through scheme rather than pure pass-rush volume.